The meeting of the World Cinema Project and the Criterion Collection is a fortuitous one. Criterion’s stated mission to distribute “important classic and contemporary films” seems modest and straightforward enough, but has occasionally drawn criticism from cinephiles who carp that…
“Grey Gardens” was released by Criterion in 2001 with Spine Number 123. In 2006 they released the follow-up version assembled from outtakes, “The Beales of Grey Gardens” on a separate disc (Spine Number 361) and also as part of a…
Anybody who seeks power almost certainly can’t be trusted with it. The ambitious unnamed protagonist (Gian Maria Volonté) of “Investigation of a Citizen Under Suspicion” (1970) would openly admit that, and he would so openly because there’s nothing anybody can…
This is my third tour through “Nashville” (1975) and it will probably be my last. When Criterion first announced Robert Altman’s “Nashville” as an upcoming release, my Facebook feed exploded with hosannas: “Must have!”, “Top Ten All Time!”, “Best… movie……
The following is a review of the Criterion Collection’s new 27-disc mega-set “Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman,” released on Nov 26, 2013. If ever a blade went snicker-snack, it is surely Zatoichi’s humble cane sword, drawn and resheathed so quickly…
As surely as any Esther Williams or Jackie Chan flick, “Frances Ha” (2013) sells the distinctive screen appeal of its star, Greta Gerwig. You will either buy in or you won’t, but if you resist the pitch, it’s certainly not…
The first part of this review was written by John Puccio in 2004 in regards to Warner Bros. SD release of “City Lights.” The rest of the review was written by Christopher Long for the 2013 Criterion Blu-ray/Dual Format release.…
Yasujiro Ozu’s exceptional “Tokyo Story” (1953) yields potential readings to suit all temperaments. The die-hard optimist might draw inspiration from the dignified manner in which the characters endure life’s inevitable hardships. The rural elderly couple visiting their children in Tokyo…
I don’t know if I believe in love at first sight, but “Tabu” (2012) had me hooked from the very first shot. Photographed in sun-bleached black-and-white, an intrepid explorer stands forlornly in the jungle, slump-shouldered and barely able to muster…
According to an article I may or may not have actually read, during the shooting of “The Big Lebowski” Jeff Bridges was very concerned with his motivation. To prepare for each new scene, Bridges asked a random Coen brother, “Did…